Texas has always been a state where work gets done with calloused hands, steel-toed boots, and a can-do spirit. You don’t need to wear a tie or sit behind a desk for forty hours a week to make a solid living here. In fact, some of the best-paying careers in the Lone Star State are in fields folks might still call “blue-collar”—skilled trades, heavy machinery, oil rigs, and everything in between.
But here’s the kicker: many of these jobs pay six figures or close to it, and you don’t need a four-year degree that saddles you with student debt. The path might be tougher physically, sure, but the reward is tangible—steady income, job security, and the kind of pride you can’t fake when you point to something and say, “I built that.”
Let’s walk through some of the highest-paying blue-collar jobs in Texas right now, and along the way, I’ll share a few side notes about what makes this kind of work so meaningful—and why more people are turning back to trades.
Oil and Gas: Still King in Texas
You probably saw this one coming. Oilfield jobs have been the backbone of Texas for generations. Despite all the talk about renewables, the demand for oil and gas workers remains sky-high.
- Rotary Drill Operators: These folks run the big rigs that keep wells pumping. Median salaries hover around $70,000, but experienced drillers can hit six figures.
- Petroleum Pump System Operators: A role that keeps the crude flowing safely. Average pay? Often $80,000 and above with overtime.
The work is tough, dirty, and sometimes dangerous, but it pays well. And you know what? For many workers, the camaraderie and rhythm of rig life—the long shifts, the shared meals, the mix of sweat and diesel—becomes part of their identity.
Electricians: Powering More Than Just Homes
Texas keeps growing. More people, more houses, more businesses—it all means one thing: electricians are always in demand.
Licensed electricians in Texas can expect to earn anywhere from $55,000 to $95,000 annually, and master electricians often pull in more. The beauty here is scalability—you start as an apprentice, learn on the job, and gradually build toward running your own contracting business if you want.
And there’s something almost poetic about the work. Flip a switch, and light floods the room. It’s a kind of magic, even if it’s just wires and breakers behind the walls.
Aircraft Mechanics: High Stakes, High Pay
Air travel might feel routine for passengers, but behind every flight is a crew of mechanics who keep planes in the air. In Texas—home to airports like Dallas–Fort Worth and Houston’s George Bush Intercontinental—aircraft mechanics are well compensated.
Average salaries range between $70,000 and $100,000, depending on certifications and the size of the employer. The stakes are high; mistakes aren’t an option. But for people who thrive on precision and don’t mind crawling into cramped spaces with a wrench and a flashlight, it’s an incredibly rewarding career.
Elevator Installers and Repair Technicians: Going Up (and Up in Pay)
Not the first trade that comes to mind, right? But Texas is adding more mid- and high-rise buildings each year, and someone has to make sure those elevators don’t leave people stuck between floors.
This is one of the true sleeper hits of the blue-collar world. Elevator installers and repair techs in Texas often make north of $80,000, and top earners can push past $100,000. The apprenticeship can take years, but the payoff is steady, lucrative work in a niche field.
Construction Managers: Still Blue-Collar at Heart
Some might argue this is edging into white-collar territory, but most construction managers worked their way up from the trades. They’re not sitting in boardrooms—they’re on job sites, hard hat on, clipboard in hand, making sure projects stay on time and under budget.
In Texas, construction managers often earn between $95,000 and $120,000. And because the state is booming—new highways, new subdivisions, new office towers—the demand doesn’t look like it’s slowing anytime soon.
Wind Turbine Technicians: A New Kind of Cowboy
Here’s where the story takes a twist. Texas isn’t just oil country anymore—it’s wind country too. Drive through West Texas and you’ll see mile after mile of turbines spinning against the horizon.
Wind techs—folks who climb those towering structures to keep them running—make around $55,000 to $75,000, but experienced workers can clear more, especially with overtime. It’s not the highest-paying trade on this list, but it’s one of the fastest-growing, and it comes with bragging rights: you’re literally helping power the future.
And yes, climbing 200 feet into the air with tools strapped to your belt isn’t for everyone. But for those who crave adventure, it beats sitting at a cubicle any day.
Plumbers and Pipefitters: The Backbone Nobody Talks About
Water, gas, heating—it all runs through pipes, and without skilled plumbers and pipefitters, the whole system collapses.
In Texas, licensed plumbers and pipefitters typically earn $60,000 to $90,000, with the upper tier making even more if they take on large commercial jobs. It’s not glamorous work, but when your water heater bursts at midnight, you’ll gladly pay top dollar for someone who knows what they’re doing.
Truck Drivers: Big Rigs, Big Paychecks
Truck driving is another field where Texas shines. With so much freight moving through Houston, Dallas, San Antonio, and across the border into Mexico, CDL (Commercial Driver’s License) holders are in high demand.
Long-haul truckers in Texas often make $60,000 to $90,000, with specialized hauls—like hazardous materials or oversized loads—bringing in more. It’s a lifestyle as much as a job, and sure, the long hours can wear on you. But for many drivers, the open road and steady paycheck are worth it.
So, What Does It All Mean?
The phrase “blue-collar” used to carry a kind of stigma, as if these jobs were somehow lesser than cushy office gigs. But in Texas, that couldn’t be further from the truth. The trades are thriving, the pay is competitive, and the respect is growing.
Think about it: who really keeps the state running? The mechanic under the plane, the electrician wiring a hospital, the pipefitter fixing a gas line, the trucker hauling food across the state. These aren’t just jobs—they’re lifelines.
And maybe that’s the most important point: blue-collar work isn’t just about money. It’s about dignity, skill, and the satisfaction of knowing your effort has a direct impact. In a state like Texas, where grit and independence still matter, that’s worth more than a padded resume.
Final Word
If you’re in Texas and you’re weighing your career options, don’t overlook the trades. Whether it’s the roar of a drilling rig, the hum of a turbine, or the quiet click of an elevator door sliding shut, these jobs pay well, offer stability, and—best of all—come with a sense of pride you can’t put a price tag on.
So maybe the next time someone says, “You need a college degree to succeed,” you can smile and point to Texas. Because here, blue-collar doesn’t mean second-class. It means steady work, strong pay, and a future you can actually build with your own two hands.